[1] I come to you for protection, O LORD my God. Save me from my persecutors-rescue me! [2] If you don't, they will maul me like a lion, tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me. [3] O LORD my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice, [4] if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause, [5] then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude [6] Arise, O LORD, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies! Wake up, my God, and bring justice! [7] Gather the nations before you. Rule over them from on high. [8] The LORD judges the nations. Declare me righteous, O LORD, for I am innocent, O Most High! [9] End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God. [10] God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right. [11] God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day. [12] If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. [13] He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows. [14] The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. [15] They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves. [16] The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads. [17] I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
